Reversible refrigerating system



Dec. 29, 1936. w ROESSLER 2,066,161

REVERSIBLE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed March 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l I nventor: Edward W. Roessl er;

cidww w HIS ttorneg.

Dec. 29, 1936. E. w. ROESSLER REVERSIBLE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed March 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7..

adwiw" H i 5 At torney Inventor Edward W. Roessler 12 #a Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE aarmcnm'rmc SYSTEM Edward W. Roessler, Nutley, N. J., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 6, 1936, Serial No. 57,497

1 Claim.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty 15 which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an 20 air conditioning system utilizing a reversible refrigerating system embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of an improved arrangement of a float valve embodying my invention; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View of 25 one of the check valve guides shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. 1,- I have shown an air conditioning system comprising a duct I having a fresh air inlet Hand a return air inlet |2 controlled by adjustable dampers l3 and I4, respec- 80 tively. Fresh and return air is drawn into the inlets and I2 by operation of a fan l5 arranged at the outlet end of the duct l0 and which dis.- charges the air into the enclosure to be conditioned through an outlet duct IS. The return air 35 duct I2 and the outlet duct l6 pass through a wall I I! of the enclosure to be conditioned. Within the duct I0 is arranged a filter l8, which removes dust and solid particles from the air circulated through the duct, and a heat exchange element 0 IQ for varying the temperature of the air passing through the duct. In order to supply a heat exchanging medium to the element l9, to heator cool the air passing through the duct I0, I provide a reversible refrigerating machine.

45 The reversible refrigerating machine comprises a motor and compressor arranged within a sealed casing 20, a heat exchange element 2|, 9. flow controlling device 22, the heat exchange element l9 and a selectively operable reversing valve 23.

" The valve 23 is shown in its position when the refrigerating machine is operating to cool the air passing through the duct III, the heat exchange element l9 serving as the evaporator of the refrigerating machine. Refrigerant is compressed in the casing 20 by operation of the compressor therein and flows through a connection 24 to a chamber 25 of the valve 23 and thence through a connection 26 to the heat exchange element 2| serving as a condenser, where the compressed refrigerant is cooled, the heat being absorbed by cooling water circulating through a coilv 21 supplied with water through a connection 28. The refrigerant is liquefied and flows through a connection 29 to a check-valve 30 having a valvemember 3 I. The member 3| is shown in its lower position resting on raised stops 32 which permit the liquid refrigerant to flow around the member 3| and through a connection 33 to a receiver or float valve chamber. The connection 29 is also in communication with a valve 35 through a connection 36. The pressure on the high side of the system maintains a valve member 31 of the valve 35 against its valve seat 38 and prevents the flow of refrigerant through the valve 35.

The chamber 34; is in communication with a check-valve 39 through a connection 40. The pressure of the refrigerant on the high side of the system maintains a valve member 4| of the valve 39 in its closed position against a seat 42. and thereby prevents the passage of refrigerant out of the chamber 34 through the valve 39.

When a predetermined amount of liquid refrigerant has collected in the chamber 34, a float 43 therein rises and lifts a float valve 44, and permits the liquidrefrigerant to flow out through a connection 45 to a cross connection 46 providing communication between the check-valve 35 and a check-valve 41. The pressure of the refrigerant in the connection 46 raises a valve member 48 of the valve 41 and permits the refrigerant to flow from the chamber 34 through the valve 41 and a connection 49 to a conduit 50, through which it flows to the heat exchange element IS. The liquid refrigerant in the element I9 is vaporized by the absorption of heat from the air passing through the duct i0 and thereby cools theair. -The vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the element l9 through a conduit 5| and passes through a passage 52 in a slide 53'of the valve 23 and flows into a connection 54 through which it is returned to the compressor within th casing 20.

The heat of the motor and compressor within the casing 20 may be removed by passing cooling water through a coil 55 arranged within the easing 20 and supplied with water from a conduit 56 connecting the discharge side of the coil 21 with the coil 55. The cooling water flowing through the coil 55 is discharged through a. con.

nection 51. The cooling water may also be discharged from the conduit 56 through a connec-' tion 58 without passing through the coil 55. The quantity of cooling water flowing through the coil 21 is controlled by operation of a thermostatically controlled valve 59 which is responsive to the temperature of the coil 21, a thermostatic bulb 50 being secured in heat exchange relationship with the discharge side of the coil 21. The amount of cooling water flowing through the coil is controlled by operation of the thermostatically operated valve 6i which is responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the casing 20, a thermostatic bulb 52 for operating the valve 6| being secured near the refrigerant discharge connection 24 of the casing 20.

When it is desired to operate the refrigerating machine to heat the air passing through the casing iii, an operating lever53 of the valve 23 is moved to the right, thereby moving the slide 53 to the left and placing the conduit 5! in communication with the chamber 25 and the connections 26 and 54 in communication with each other through the passage 52. When the valve is in this position the compressed refrigerant discharged from the casing 20 passes through the v connections 24 and 5| to the heat exchange element l9 serving as a condenser, where it is cooled and liquefied by the circulation of air through the duct i0,-thus heating the air. The liquefied refrigerant discharged from the element l 9 flows through the duct 50 to the check-valve 39, the valve member 4| of which is held in its lower position against stops 64 allowing the liquid refrigerant to flow through the valve 39 and connection 40 to the chamber 34. The valve member 48 of the check-valve 41 is maintained against a valve seat 65 by the pressure of the refrigerant in the connection 49. The valve member 3i of the valve 30 is forced against the valve seat 66 by the pressure of the refrigerant on the high side of the machine within the chamber 34. When a predetermined amount of liquid refrigerant has collected in thechamber 34, the float 43 will rise and open the valve 44, thereby admitting liquid refrigerant to the connection 45 and the check-valve 35. The valve member 31 of the valve 35 will then be forced from its seat 38 and the liquid refrigerant will flow through the valve 35, connection 36 and connection 23 to the heat exchange element 2| serving as an evaporator. The

liquid refrigerant within the heat exchange element 2| will be vaporized by the absorption of heater or as a cooler. The only change necessary to reverse the refrigerating system to change it from heating to cooling is the change of the position of the lever 63 operating the control valve 23.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a perspective view, partly in section, of a unitary float valve assembly for a refrigerating machine embodying my. invention, the assembly including the checkvalve and float-valve indicated at 22 in Fig. 1. Referring now'to Fig. 2, I have provided a float chamber 61 having a float 68 arranged therein to operate a valve 59 through a linkage 10, the valve 69 being raised from its seat upon raising of the float. At the top of the float chamber I provide a valve block 'Il closing the chamber and withinwhich are arranged the check-valves for automatically obtaining the proper flow of refrigerant through the device. The checkvalves are arranged within enlargements l2 and 13 at either end of theblock II. The construction of the two ends of the block isidentical and the following description of the arrangement of the valves at one end will sumce for both. Each end of the block is provided with an inlet checkvalve 14 and an outlet check-valve I5. The lower side of the inlet check-valve l4 communicates with the interior of the float chamber 51 through a passage 16 formed in the block. The lower side of the outlet check-valve I5 communicates with the float operated valve 59 through a chamber 11 in the end of the block, a cross passage I8 extending between the chambers II in the two ends of the block, and a connection I! outside the block between the passage I8 and the valve 69. The inlet and outlet check-valves in each end of the block communicate with each other at their inlet and outlet sides, respectively, through passages formed in the top of the end pieces 12 and 13 above the valves..

The passage 80 in the end 12 of the block communicates with an external connection 8|, and the passage 80 in the end 13 of the block communicates with an external connection 32. When the valve assembly is connected in a refrigerating machinesuch as is shown in Fig. l, the connections 8] and 82 are arranged in the conduits leading from the heat exchange elements. In other words, if the assembly of Fig.

2 were connected in the reversible refrigerating machine of Fig. 1, the connections 8i and 82 would be arranged in communication with the conduits 50 and 29, respectively. The checkvalves 14 and I5 are arranged to'operate in the same manner as the check-valves of the device 22 in Fig. 1, and the operation of the refrigerating machine of Fig. 1, when utilizing the device shown in Fig. 2, is the same as has been described above. The inlet and outlet checkvalves on the right end I3 of the block" correspond respectively to the valves 30 and 35 in Fig. 1, and the inlet and outlet check-valves in valves 39 and 41.

The construction of the check-valves I4 and 15 is similar, the valve guides and plates being identical and interchangeable. Referring again to Fig. 2, the check-valve I4 is shown in its open position and comprises a valve guide 83 arranged in an opening 84 in the end 13 of block 1i and held in place by a threaded plug 35 having a valve seat 86 formed therein. A valve disk or plate 81 rests within the guide 53. and in its raised position contacts the seat 56 and closes the valve. The opening 84 is closed by a diaphragm 88 in the top of the block and may be welded or secured to and sealed in the block in any suitable manner. The valve guide 33 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, comprises a hollow-cylindrical body 89 having a plurality of longitudinal guides 90 formed on the inner side thereof and having stops or feet 3| at the bottom on which the plate 81 may rest in its lower position. When the disk 8'I'is in its lower position the refrigerant fluid may pass around the disk between the disk and the cylindrical portion 33 of the guide and under the disk around the feet II.

50 the left end "correspond respectively to the disk or plate 94 is arrangedwithin the guide 93 and is normally held by gravity against a valve seat 95 formed in aplug'96;

f The plug 96 is threaded into theopening 92 and retains the 101 guide 93 in placeagainst the top of the opening 'i-andin registry with an outletport 91. When the outlet valve disk 94 is forced upwardly by the pressure of refrigerant it rests against stops 98 which permit the passage of refrigerant through the valve in thesame manner as the stops9ljof the valve 14. vThe opening '92 is above is'util ized in the reversible refrigerating 'closed'by a diaphragm. as in the bottom of the block secured to and sealed in the opening in Y the same manner as the diaphragm 88 in the 20 opening 8L A iciliiarging connection I for the refrigerating mac ne is secured to .the top -.of the block Hfhaving a passage llllla communicating'withthe float valve-chamber 61, the passage. llllla being closed by a threaded sealing plug-'I 0l.".A protectivecap- I02 is screwed over the charging co nection. V

When the unitary valve structure described machine shown in Fig. 1, the connections; 8| and I 82 are secured in communication with the conduits Wand 29 ,-res'pecti'vely'u The checlgwalves I4 and I5 in the end "l3'of the block 'II' corre-- spond respectively to the valves 39 and 35.0f the 'float' controlling device32 in Fig. 1, and the check-valves I4 and 15 in the end 12 of the block H correspond respectively to the checkvalves 39 and 4.1 in Fig. 1. During the operation Jof "the refrigerat ng machine tocool the air passing through the duct Hi, the liquid refrigerant-from the eat exchange element 2| flows into the passage 89in the'end 13 of the block II j 'and thence throughthe valve 14 and the passage .16 tdthe chamber 61. Thedislffl in the block I3 is held against its valve. seat 95 by -the pres- -'--sure of the refrigerant. Whe n a predetermined amount of liquid refrigerant has collected in the chamber G'Ifthe float :68 .rises'and liquid refrigerant passes through the valve 69 and the con nection l9to the" passage 18 and'thence through the valve-15 in the end I! of'the block II, it be:

" ing understood that the disk 94 of check-valve I5 in'the end 12 of the blocki'l t will be forced lip-a wardly to permitthe passage of --liquid refrigerant to the. outlet connection 8|. The valve 2 II will be forced upwardly against/its seat 86 by the pressure of the refrigerant on the high pres 'side in communication'with the chamber, so 91 and thereby will cpl-event the passage of re-v frig'erant directly out of' the chamber 61. v.When the refrigerating machine-is operated.

"to'heat .tlie ai'r'jpassing through'the duct i0,

liquid refrigerant flo'ws from the"'heat exchange element 19 through the conduit .59 to thecon operation-of: the, machine.

in (sonnectioniwith a reversible refrigerating machine for "an" and scope of my invention;

nection 8|. The liquid refrigerantthen flows into the passage 88 in the end 12 of block 'II- and through the valve 14, in that end and into the chamber 61, the valve l5 being heldc, closed.

The liquid refrigerant from the chamber 61 5 passes through the valve 69 and thence through the valve 15 in the end 13 of the block and out through the connection 82. n

Since the float valve mechanism is symmetrical, the operation in either direction of flow of refrigerant is the same, the corresponding valves, in opposite'ends of the block being utilizedto perform the same functions. Thus refrigerant is admitted through'the valve in one end or the block-and'discharged through the valve 14 in '15 the other end of the block during one direction a of operation, and the other inlet andv outletvalves are utilized during the opposite direction of operation.

,Itis, therefore, apparent that I have provided 20 a simple unitary floatlvalve' construction for reversible refrigerating machines of the, type illustrated in Fig. 1, and which'may be utilized in any reversible refrigerating machine in order antomatically to: control the flow of refrigerant therethrough regardless'of the direction of the While Ihave shown and described my invention air conditioning-system; it1 wi1l be understood that it is applicable to reversible refrige'rating machines of other types. I do not,

therefore, desire my invention to. be limited to the particular construction shown an described,

and I' intendzin the appended claim' to cover all 5 F modifications which do not depart from the spirit- What I clainf as new a d desire to secureby' Letters Patent is;

A flow controlling device for reversiblerefrig-4 crating systems including a valve block,-means, includingv a chamber arranged below said block for collecting liquid refrigerant, means including two inlet passages arranged in said blockand communicating with said chamber for admitting refrigerant to said chamber, a dischargev valve for said. chamber, means including a float arranged in saidchamber for operat ng said discharge valve; means including two outlet passages cation between said discharge valve and said out.- let passages for removing liquid refrigerant fromsaid chamber, a refrigerant conduit in communication with one of said discharge connections refrigerant conduit in communication with the other of said discharge connections and with the through said discharge valve regardless, the direction of flow of refrigerant through frigerant conduits. A

t in said. block and a conduitproviding communi- EDWARD w. nonssnmc5 I and with one of said inlet connections, a second disk 81 of the valve It in the end I! of the block 

